Qantas, Boeing set deal
for purchase of jetliners

Qantas Airways has placed orders and commitments for 65 of Boeing Co.'s newest twin-aisle jetliners in a deal that would be valued at $8.5 billion at list prices, ending a hard-fought contest between the U.S. aircraft maker and its European rival Airbus.

Boeing, of Chicago, Illinois, said yesterday that Qantas, Australia's flag carrier, ordered 45 of its 787 "Dreamliner" airplanes and took options on 20 more. Qantas Chief Executive Geoff Dixon said that the airline already considered the options to be firm orders.